Ocarina



Feb. 8, 1949. w, w, GRETSCH 2,460,931

OCARINA Filed Dec. 4, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f6 72 I i :5- INVENTOR.

. l I/V/LL/A/V' W G/RETSCH ATTORNEY Feb. 8, 1949. w. w. GRETSCH 2,460,931

OCARINA Filed Do. 4, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WALL/m1 l Z G/FfTS CH A TTOP/VZ Y Patented Feb. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OCARINA Application'December 4, 1944, Serial No. 566,611

Claims. 1

My invention relates to ocarinas and refers particularly to ocarinas composed of only two parts or elements.

One object of my invention is ocarinas composed of only two parts.

Another object of my invention is ocarinas in which all of the parts are capable of being molded from plastics or other suitable material.

Another object of my invention is ocarinas. in which the air passage is contained entirely within one element of the device.

Another object of my invention is ocarinas in which there is no possibility of leakage of air during its passage into the device.

Another object of my invention is ocarinas in which the accuracy of the tonal effects is determined during the production of the device and which cannot be changed, or injured, by any displacement of parts through accident to the original construction.

Another object of my invention is ocarinas comprised of as few parts as possible, thus enabling its construction to be simple and economic.

The above mentioned, and other valuable features of my device will be evident upon a consideration of my specification and its accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one form of an ocarina of my invention, similar parts are designated by similar numbers.

Figure 1 is an exterior view of a finger element form of an ocarina of my invention.

Figure 2 is an exterior view of a thumb element of the same form of ocarina shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the ocarina of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is an interior view of the finger element and thumb element of the device of Figure 1, separated from each other in order to show the coordination of the several elements when the device is in closed form.

Figure 5 is a section through the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

The particular form of a device of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a finger element It so called because the apertures therein are opened and closed by the fingers of the player; and a thumb element II so called because the apertures therein are opened and closed by the thumbs of the player.

These two elements of my device have the same exterior edge contours, so that when placed in contact with each other they will present the appearance shown in Figures 3 and 5.

The finger element I0 is interiorly concave and is partially extended into the interiorly concave mouthpiece 12. Within the concave portion of the mouthpiece l2 the side of the finger element iii is extended. to form a barrier l3 and the extended end portion of the mouthpiece i2 has a cut-out forming a recess 24. The edge l5 of the finger element i0 is a plane in order that it may contact the corresponding edge plane of the thumb element. The finger piece I0 has a number of holes l6, l6 for the production of various tonal, efiects in the usual manner of using oca rinas.

The thumb element i I is interiorly concave and is partially extended into the interiorly concave mouthpiece ['2' corresponding in exterior contour to the mouthpiece [2 of the finger element Ill. Within the concave portion of the mouthpiece II, the side of the thumb element H' is extended to form a barrier l3 and the extended end portion of the mouthpiece [2' has a cut-out forming a passageway 14'. The edge i5 of the thumb element H is a plane in order that it may contact the corresponding edge plane i5 of the finger element Hi. The thumb piece it has a number of holes 16, I6 for the production of various tonal effects in the usual manner in the use of ocarinas. An air passage i1 extends through the end portion of the mouthpiece l2 into the concave space of the thumb element H, the upper wall [8 of the air passage ll being extended upwardly toward the outer end of the mouthpiece l2 forming an extended member [9 which is inserted within the recess [4 of the finger piece II] when the two elements are placed in contact with each other to form the completed Ocarina. It will be noticed that the air passage I! is entirely enclosed within the mouthpiece l2 of the thumb element H.

In producing the ocarinas of my invention, the edges of the thumb element and of the finger element are abutted upon each other and firmly secured to each other. This can be accomplished by inserting the studs 26, 2D, 2!! of the finger element into the recesses 2|, 2|, 2! of the thumb element and thus maintaining frictional contact of the two members, or by cementing or otherwise attaching them to each other.

In operation air is blown through the air passage H of the thumb element into the tonal chamber formed by the concave portion of the finger element and of the thumb element, and that different tones may be produced by opening and closing the proper apertures.

It will be noted from the above that the ocarina of my invention can be formed from only two molded elements of a suitable plastic or other suitable molded material, thus reducing the cost of production and assembling to a minimum.

It will be further noted that, as the air passage of my device is completely within the thumb ele ment, there can be no loss, or leakage, of air during its introduction into the tonal chamber thus insuring the production of an unvarying tone.

It will be further noted that there are no elements, or parts in my ocarinas which can be accidentally misplaced or loosened, thus further insuring constant desired tonal effects.

It will be further noted that as all of theparts of my ocarinas are produced in the molding of its two elements, accuracy of tones can be accomplished during its production.

therethrough and extending from its exterior end portion into its portion of said tonal chamber.

3. In an ocarina, in combination, a pair of molded complementary interiorly concave elements forming a tonal chamber, a complementary interiorly concave extended mouthpiece portion formed as an integral part of each of said elements, a duct formed in one of said mouthpiece portions having an entirely enclosed air passage passing through said one mouthpiece portion and extending from its exterior end por tion into its portion of the tonal chamber.

The above and other valuable features of the ocarinas of my invention will be evident upon a consideration of their construction as set forth herein.

I do not limit myself to the particular size, shape, arrangement or material of parts as specifically shown and described, as these are given solely for the purpose of clearly describing my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In an ocarina, in combination, a pair of complementary interiorly concave elements forming a tonal chamber, a complementary interiorly concave extended mouthpiece portion carried by each of said elements, a duct formed in one of said mouthpiece portions having an entirely enclosed air passage passing therethrough and extending from its exterior end portion into the tonal chamber.

' 2. In an Ocarina, in combination, an interiorly concave finger element with an extended mouthpiece portion, a complementary interiorly concave thumb element having a complementary extended mouthpiece portion, a tonal chamber formed by said finger element and said thumb element, a duct formed in one of said elements having an entirely enclosed air passage passing r 4. In an ocarina, in combination a pair of coma tonal chamber, a complementary interiorly concave extended mouthpiece portion formed as an integral part of each of said elements, a duct formed in one of said mouthpiece portions having an entirely enclosed inclined air passage passing through said one mouthpiece portion and extending from its exterior end portion into its portion of the tonal chamber.

5. In an ocarina, in combination, an interiorly concave finger element with an extended mouthpiece portion, a complementary interiorly concave thumb element having a complementary extended mouthpiece portion, a tonal chamber formed by said finger element and said thumb element, a duct formed in the mouthpiece portion of said thumb element having an entirely enclosed inclined air passage passing therethrough and extending from its exterior end portion into its portion of said tonal chamber.

WILLIAM W. GRETSCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 2,145,605 Mausolf Jan. 31, 1939 2,194,332 Sumner Mar. 19, 1940 2,214,553 Gruber Sept. 10, 1940 

